Can you eat the 5 gum wrapper?

Chewing gum has been around for centuries, with evidence showing that ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Mayans, and North American Indians chewed tree resin and other natural substances. Modern chewing gum was first developed in the 1860s, with chicle, a natural latex collected from the sapodilla tree, being used as the base. Today, most chewing gums are made from synthetic rubber instead of chicle.

One of the most popular chewing gum brands is 5 Gum. First introduced in 2007, 5 Gum is known for its unique flavors and market positioning towards young adults. But with any chewing gum, the question arises – can you actually eat the wrapper too?

Quick Answer

No, you should not eat the 5 Gum wrapper. While chewing gum wrappers are generally made from food-grade materials that are non-toxic if swallowed, they are designed and manufactured to be discarded, not consumed. Eating wrappers can pose choking hazards and provides no nutritional value, so it is not recommended.

Materials Used in 5 Gum Wrappers

Modern chewing gum wrappers are typically composed of a few key materials:

  • Aluminum foil – The innermost layer touching the gum itself. Protects flavor and provides a barrier.
  • Paper – Provides label printing space and visual appeal. Can be coated for gloss.
  • Polyethylene – An inner plastic coating that sticks to the foil and provides additional protection.
  • Ink – Used for branding, labeling, and color accents on the paper.

5 Gum wrappers specifically contain aluminum foil, paper, and polyethylene. The ingredients and exact material compositions are proprietary information held by the Wrigley Company, which manufactures 5 Gum.

While these materials are not intended for consumption, they are generally recognized as safe by the FDA. The ink used is non-toxic. And the aluminum, paper, and plastic pose minimal health risks if accidentally swallowed. However, the wrapper itself has no nutritional value and is not designed to be digested.

Health Risks of Eating 5 Gum Wrappers

Despite being made of safe materials, there are some potential downsides to actually eating 5 Gum wrappers:

  • Choking hazard – The wrapper could get lodged in the throat, especially for small children.
  • Indigestion – Foil and plastic do not break down easily. This could cause gastrointestinal upset or constipation.
  • No nutritional value – The wrapper provides no benefits like vitamins, minerals, or fiber when eaten.
  • Contains BPA – The plastic layer may use BPA in manufacturing, a chemical that can disrupt hormones.
  • Not sterile – The wrapper has likely come into contact with dirt, germs, and bacteria during manufacturing, packing, and shipment.

Overall, while not toxic, eating the wrapper provides no benefit and has some risks. It should be avoided.

Taste and Texture of Gum Wrappers

Since chewing gum wrappers were never intended for consumption, they do not have an appealing taste or texture if chewed and swallowed.

Specifically, 5 Gum wrappers would likely exhibit the following taste and texture characteristics:

  • The foil layer has a metallic, sterile taste.
  • The paper layer is fibrous, dry, and crumbly.
  • The plastic layer is rough and stickier in texture.
  • The ink provides an unpleasant chemical flavor.
  • Swallowing the balled up wrapper is difficult and scratchy.
  • The wrapper is unlikely to provide any satisfying flavor when eaten.

In short, chewing and swallowing 5 Gum wrappers would provide an unappealing crunchy, dry, and bitter sensory experience. The materials are not designed to be palatable foods.

Should Kids Eat Gum Wrappers?

It is especially important that parents and caregivers ensure children do not intentionally or unintentionally eat gum wrappers like those from 5 Gum.

Kids are at higher risk of choking from swallowing wrappers. Their smaller bodies are also more sensitive to toxins and chemicals from ink or plastic. And they may be more likely to swallow wrappers out of curiosity or misguided hunger.

Here are some tips for keeping kids safe around chewing gum wrappers:

  • Unwrap gum before giving it to younger kids.
  • Teach kids to spit out gum instead of swallowing it.
  • Make sure discarded wrappers are not left within reach.
  • Monitor kids while chewing gum and correct any tendency to play with wrappers.
  • Warn kids that wrappers are choking hazards and not food.

Following these simple practices can help prevent accidental ingestion. While gum wrapper materials may not be immediately toxic, the habit of eating non-food items should be discouraged from a young age.

Will Eating Wrappers Harm Pets?

Pet owners also need to be aware of chewing gum wrappers, as dogs and cats may be inclined to eat discarded trash. Cats especially are prone to chewing and eating any crinkly plastic or foil they find.

While not as dangerous as chocolate, gum wrappers can still pose some risks for pets if ingested:

  • Foil and plastic may cause vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Wrappers can cause intestinal blockages or obstructions.
  • Plastic stuck in the digestive tract may require surgery.
  • Toxins in ink if large amounts ingested.

The best way to protect pets is proper disposal of gum wrappers so they are not left within reach. Also teaching pets “leave it” when approaching unknown objects on walks. Monitoring gum chewing in pets is also advised.

Can You Compost Gum Wrappers?

With environmental awareness growing, many consumers want to know if gum wrappers can be composted. Unfortunately, most cannot due to the materials used:

  • Foil is not compostable and takes a very long time to biodegrade.
  • Most paper used is lined or coated and will not break down.
  • Plastics contain polymers that do not decompose easily.
  • Ink may contain metals or toxins unsafe for compost.

While a few “natural” chewing gums use compostable ingredients like chicle and unbleached paper, most standard gums like 5 do not. Disposing of the wrapper in regular trash or recycling is the best current option.

In the future, chewing gum companies may consider biodegradable or compostable materials. But current wrappers should not go into compost piles or bins.

Recycling Potential

If they cannot be composted, are gum wrappers at least recyclable? Again, the answer is complicated, as recycling depends on your local programs and facilities.

Some key considerations for recycling gum wrappers include:

  • Plastic liners often cannot be removed, contaminating paper recycling.
  • Foil may jam machine sensors and sorting at recycling plants.
  • Special facilities are needed to extract aluminum from foil.
  • Wrappers are small and hard to sort properly.

For these reasons, most standard recycling systems cannot properly process chewing gum wrappers. The materials get screened out and sent to landfills instead.

However, if you have a facility that takes aluminum foil and plastic bags, the wrappers may be acceptable with special preparation. Removing paper, separating layers, and aggregating may allow recycling in some cases. But most wrappers will end up in the trash.

Gum Industry and Sustainability

The chewing gum industry recognizes it faces some challenges around sustainability and wrappers. For example, Mars Wrigley has announced plans to make all packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. They also aim to use less packaging overall.

Some initiatives chewing gum companies can take include:

  • Using biodegradable materials like chicle
  • Removing unnecessary packaging layers
  • Shrinking wrapper sizes
  • Investing in recyclable materials and processing
  • Eco-friendly ink, dyes, and coatings
  • Consumer education on proper disposal

With public demand for sustainability growing, chewing gum brands have incentives to make their products and packaging more eco-friendly. But substantial changes take time to implement across global supply chains.

While wrappers today may not be recyclable or compostable, future options and innovations could help chewing gum become greener and more sustainable.

Legality of Eating Gum Wrappers

Given all the risks and downsides, you may wonder – is eating gum wrappers actually illegal in any way? Could you get in legal trouble for swallowing a wrapper?

The answer is generally no. There are no laws directly prohibiting or restricting the consumption of gum wrappers in most jurisdictions. A few key legal considerations include:

  • No current laws designate wrappers as hazardous non-food items.
  • Ingestion does not violate FDA food regulations.
  • Wrappers are not classified as controlled or illegal substances.
  • Product safety liability rests with the manufacturer, not the consumer.

However, a parent may face accusations of negligence if a child is harmed from swallowing wrappers. And in rare cases, intentionally feeding garbage to someone without consent could be considered a criminal act.

But for the average consumer accidentally or intentionally eating the occasional wrapper, there are no legal issues. Gum manufacturers may discourage it, but they cannot prohibit wrapper consumption outright.

Can Eating Wrappers Get You High?

Internet myths have sometimes claimed that chewing gum wrappers can get you high or cause intoxicating effects. Is there any truth to these rumors?

In short – no, there is no psychoactive effect from eating 5 Gum or other similar wrappers. A few key facts:

  • No ingredients in the foil, paper, or plastic have mind-altering properties.
  • Ink is non-toxic and has no intoxicating substances.
  • No narcotics or illicit drugs are involved in manufacturing.
  • No peer-reviewed studies show wrappers altering mental states.

While urban legends persist online, none of the materials in modern gum wrappers can cause someone to get high or experience a drug-like buzz. Any reported effects are likely psychosomatic in nature.

Can You Eat Other Brands of Gum Wrappers?

The previous discussion has focused specifically on 5 Gum wrappers. But what about other popular chewing gum brands – are their wrappers also unsafe or inedible?

Here is a quick overview of some other leading gums and their wrappers:

Brand Wrapper Materials Edible?
Orbit Aluminum, paper, polypropylene plastic No
Trident Aluminum, paper, polyethylene No
Juicy Fruit Foil, paper, plastic No
Bubble Yum Foil, polypropylene, ink No
Stride Proprietary No
Extra Aluminum, plastic polymers No

In general, the major brands all use some combination of foil, paper, and plastic polymers for their wrappers. They may differ in exact materials and constructions, but chewing gum wrappers are not designed for eating regardless of brand.

Conclusion

Chewing gum wrappers like those from 5 Gum may seem harmless, but they are not intended to be consumed. While the materials are generally non-toxic, eating the wrappers provides no benefit and carries some health risks like choking or digestion issues. Kids and pets should be kept away from discarded gum wrappers, and there is no “high” from ingesting them.

To avoid unnecessary landfill waste, consumers should dispose of used gum wrappers properly. And chewing gum companies are starting to face pressure to make packaging more eco-friendly and sustainable for the environment. But the bottom line remains – wrappers are designed for gum protection and hygiene, not for eating.

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